cut down

verb

cut down; cutting down; cuts down

transitive verb

1

a

: to strike down and kill or incapacitate

b

: knock down

2

a

: to remodel by removing extras or unwanted furnishings and fittings

b

: to remake in a smaller size

intransitive verb

: to reduce or curtail volume or activity

cut down on smoking

Phrases

cut down to size

: to reduce from an inflated or exaggerated importance to true or suitable stature

Examples of cut down in a Sentence

we need to cut down that dying tree

Recent Examples on the Web

Political analysts saw the debate as Cuomo’s last chance to make a comeback and cut down Mamdani’s lead. —Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2025

This innovative approach promises to cut down on the toxic waste associated with gold extraction and a new approach to recovering high-purity gold from various sources. —Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2025

In 2006, protestors occupied a grove of oak trees slated to be cut down for the construction of a new athletic center. —Austin Meek, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025

The approach could extend road life, cut down on traffic delays and help governments spend infrastructure funds more efficiently. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1571, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for cut down

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown

Kids Definition

cut down

verb

1

: to knock down and kill or wound

2

: to make over in a smaller size

3

: to reduce something in amount

cut down on energy use

Medical Definition

cutdown

noun

cut·​down ˈkət-ˌdau̇n 

: incision of a superficial blood vessel (as a vein) to facilitate insertion of a catheter (as for administration of fluids)